Despite being physically shattered, Annie Ford’s unbridled, infectious enthusiasm and zeal for life somehow still radiated from her.
Not only had she completed an epic threemonth solo journey cycling and surfing the length of New Zealand aboard a Santa Cruz Nomad, the bubbly Tasmanian had just destroyed the 8848m Everest Challenge by punching out 10,000 vertical metres non-stop on Coronet Peak's access road and Rude Rock trail.
Ticking off one of those achievements in a lifetime would be memorable, but the 32-yearold has completed both in just four months.
“It's wild, hey!” Annie laughs. “If you'd told me in June what I would've completed by the end of the year, there's no way I would've believed you. Man, talk about a life-changing time in my life; 2022 really has been a year that has redefined me.”
Starters.
Growing up near Hobart, Tasmania, it's unsurprising Annie gained an appreciation for both the ocean and forests. A qualified marine biologist, she's a passionate surfer and only discovered the joys of mountain biking when the Maydena Bike Park opened in her back yard in early 2018.
“I dropped the surfboard for a good two years because I couldn't get off my bike," she recalls. “We had some of the best riding on the planet on
